C.F.I.
Critical Faith Investigation
Hebrews 11:1-3
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:1-3
As we look at the breakdown of the message it is clear that we must understand the importance of examining where we stand in our Faith. Let me give an expository breakdown of the word Faith. When we were little children and our parents asked us every year about two to three months before the holidays or our birthdays what we wanted. And we eagerly prepared the list of desires we had within our little minds yet every year they managed to produce the list and we as children looked up to them even more in our belief that they could do the impossible. If we think about this level of Faith that we had as children and look into the word of God in Mark 9:37 Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me but him that sent me. Think about this point as we all have aged overtime we waiver in our Faith with doubt, fears, and questions not having that Faith like we did as the innocents of children. Therefore in this message there are 2 key points we have to address
1. How powerful is your Faith
2. Are you running and Shining in your Faith
3. The ABC’s of Faith
See when I researched just the word FAITH I found that HOPE is an important factor in this message for Hope is the key factor to how effective we are in our walk in Faith. Let me give it to this way Just as Grace and Mercy, Love and Patience walk together HOPE and FAITH walk the same way. Therefore in the book of Hebrews itself is a combination of Letters giving a direct understanding of the portrayal of Jesus Christ as our Intercessor at the Throne. It is clear that we as Christians deserve better in every way. We must recognize that the Book Hebrews has been considered the fifth Gospel for it describes Christ’s ministry in heaven at the right hand of God the father. Therefore think about it when you hear these two words Critical and Investigation the first thing that generally comes to mind is there is a something drastically wrong such as a medical test that you await the lab technicians to test. Or there is criminal matter that is a strong concern for the communities and the police are doing a deep investigation. But when we think of being critical regarding our individual FAITH are we true to ourselves in our mirror examination of how effective is our FAITH. Turn to your neighbor and say neighbor; you can wake up now the preacher is done with just the introduction.
During the time of World War II there was a prisoner in Auschwitz concentration camp by the name of Dr. Viktor Frankl and Austrian psychiatrist who during his years of captivity observed how some people survived the divesting camps they were placed in and others did not. He states:
“For the prisoner who had lost faith in the future, his future is doomed. With his loss of belief in the future, he also lost his spiritual hold; he let himself decline and become subject to mental and physical decay…. The only chance people had of making it in the camps was their ability to focus on some future goal, it had nothing to do with who was the healthiest or strongest, but who had someone waiting back home for them or who had some vocational goal they dreamed of realizing one day.”
It is apparent that in order to be powerful in our Faith and effective in our faith we must not allow any obstacles in life to beat us down and over take us. Just as in Gen 16:3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. God made a promise to Abram that his seed would bring forth great leaders for the people of Israel but Sarai being of old age did not believe that the promise would come forth because she looked at the physical aspect of the promise not the spiritual aspect. Therefore she anticipated God’s plan by offering Haggai unto Abram which brought forth Ismael. See when step before God or Jump before God we hinder the blessings that he has already prepared for us because we lack the power in our Faith. And when we do actions such as anticipation in the situation we may be facing is proving our trouble to truly believe and rely in our Heavenly Father. First of all we must realize that our FAITH is the Greatest power in the world we have to start examining our level of Faith in our daily walk for it is not a hope- so feeling our True Bible Believing Faith is our confidence unto God’s Word in spite of what the world may say different. See when you read Hebrews 11:1 For Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Think about this church we have two major words that must be address so that we can begin to truly walk in our Power of FAITH. And those words are clear Substance and Evidence. Webster defines substance as ultimate reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change; and Evidence is defined as something that furnishes proof / bear witness. Looking at both of these words is clear that in order to sustain our relationship with Jesus we must trust in the substance and not look for the evidence; which is our Hope working in our Faith. Nevertheless it is important that we have a solid foundation just like the builder does when they build a house such is our Faith. See when we are strong in our Faith we can give proof such as the word of God a Good report. For in that report is the evidence of our powerful FAITH in GOD. See in this Power Faith is where we need to examine ourselves again by asking such questions:
1. Is my Faith Weak by reflecting the HOPE-SO Feeling of Faith?
2. Moving in our own anticipation of FAITH
3. How can we please God when we waiver in our Faith
4. HOW POWERFUL IS YOUR FAITH?
When we know how powerful our Faith stands is when we can be convicted inwardly before the Lord because see remember I said that his book is the Atonement book for it is true that Jesus is our intercessor before God at the throne. Therefore we must be mindful that the evidence and substance of our Faith is when we bear witness unto those that are lost about the richness of our HOPE and FAITH.
Well now that we have addressed the foundation of Faith let us begin to look at how we are to endure and display our Faith in this Christian walk. My brothers and sisters the first point is that we have to truly look unto Jesus for he displayed the best example of endurance by running the race of Faith. See when we think about our Faith do you every associate running or endurance. For the both of these bring about a revealing revelation which is stated in Phil 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. In this scripture the points are quite clear for there are three divine resources that encourage us as Christians to keep going no matter what the situation. The first and greatest example is the Son of God for he willing sacrificed his life for our soul salvation by taking on all the sins and sickness of this world for all mankind yet we fail to endure in just simple adversities that we face day to day. Look at this way we all want to be winners for we are all winners for in Romans 8:37-39 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. See this scripture is powerful for it tells that we must continue to run a strong race with Jesus as our couch. Look at this way the it is a Monday Night Football with the Holy Healers are playing against Satan Destroyer and our head coach is Jesus Christ is standing on the sidelines giving the winning play to the Quarterback who is the Pastor and as the play unfolds we have the Running Back Evangelists, the Holy Ghost setup as the center, our fullback Apostles, the awesome wide receiver Prophets, The Tight end Teachers and of course our Left and right guards are the Ushers and the finally the Left and Right Tackle are the Deacons who are all playing in this game of Faith. Here we are at the final 2 minutes of the Game where score is tied 35 to 35. With Jesus, Jesus standing on the sideline calling the final play he tills the Quarterback sends out a powerful throw where by the gracefulness of the Center who has an awesome ability to jump in the air and catch the ball in the end zone putting the final score of the game 42 to 35. See it is important to have Critical Faith Investigation so that our Faith can be powerful, strong in the race, and above Shining in Christ Jesus. Therefore today I want us all to repeat after me say neighbor you are A Conqueror, you are a Winner, and is your FAITH SHINING.
Now we are at the final point where we are going to walk the
ABC’s OF FAITH
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. Ephesians 5:1-2
Always give thanks 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19
Build others up 1 Thessalonians 5:11-15
Cast your cares on him Psalm 55:22
Delight in God’s Word Jeremiah 15:16
Expect great things Ephesians 3:20
Forgive as you have been Forgiven Colossians 3:12-14
Give cheerfully and generously 2nd Corinthians 9:6-12
Humble yourself 1 Peter: 5-6
Increase your Faith 2 Peter 1:5-10
Joy in the journey Philippians 4:11-13
Know his Love Ephesians 3:16-19
Listen to wise counsel Proverbs 11:14, 24:6
Make Peace with Others Matthew 5:22-24
Never Give Up Galatians 6:9-10
Overflow with kindness Ephesian 4:31-32
Pray without ceasing Ephesians 6:18
Quiet yourself Psalm 46:10
Renew your Mind Romans 12:2
Seek to do his Will Matthew 7:17-27
Tell the truth in Love Ephesians 4:15-16
Use the Gifts God has given you Romans 12:4-8
Value Godliness 1 Timothy 4:7-9
Work unto the Lord Colossians 3:22-24
experience his presence 1 Peter 1:8-9
Yield to others Philippians 2:3-8
Zealously share the reason for your Hope 1 Peter 3:14-16
Therefore perhaps today you feel that Christ himself is speaking just to you. Imagine if he were standing right beside you now giving unto you the invitation to follow him. What would you do? He standing with his arms wide open saying unto you come unto me all ye that labour and are are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. It does not mean that life will get easier it means that you will be stronger in him to stand against the wilds of this world. Therefore come unto Jesus for only one step with Jesus! O why not come and say, Father in heaven I gladly surrender myself unto for you said I was worth Saving.
